Washington Capitals drafts 2004 through 2011

Beginning with the 2004 draft, the Washington Capitals' focus shifted to building the team around home-grown prospects -- starting with star left wing Alex Ovechkin. Using games played and impact at the NHL level, the 55 players Washington chose between 2004 and 2009 have been rated on a scale of 0 to 5. (Players chosen in 2010 and 2011 were not evaluated because it is far too soon to tell how they might pan out. NCAA and CIS players do not have a rating.)

An NHL mainstay and key player.

A player with a consistent place in an NHL lineup.

Players who have appeared in at least 20 NHL games but are still on the bubble, or young players who appear to be on a promising trajectory.

A player who has yet to make his NHL debut but has a consistent spot in an AHL lineup.

Players who have yet to find a consistent place in an AHL lineup.

No stars: Players who never came to North America, who have turned pro and did not play at least at the ECHL level in 2011-12 or is no longer on an NHL path.

Yr.

Rd. (Overall)

Name

NHL games

Current/last team

Rtg.

2004

1 (1)

Alex Ovechkin, F

553

Caps

2004

1 (27)

Jeff Schultz, D

373

Caps

2004

1 (29)

Mike Green, D

398

Caps

2004

2 (33)

Chris Bourque, F

33

Boston Bruins org.

2004

2 (62)

Mikhail Yunkov, F

0

Moscow Spartak (KHL)

0

2004

3 (66)

Sami Lepisto, D

176

Lokomotiv Yaroslavl(KHL)

2004

3 (88)

Clayton Barthel, D

0

Arizona (CHL) in 10-11

0

2004

5 (132)

Oscar Hedman, D

0

Timra (Swedish Elite League)

0

2004

5 (138)

Pasi Salonen, F

0

SM Liiga Assat (Finland) in 10-11

0

2004

6 (166)

Peter Guggisberg, F

0

Davos (Swiss)

0

2004

7 (197)

Andrew Gordon, F

49

Chicago Wolves (AHL) Vancouver org.

2004

8 (230)

Justin Mrazek, G

0

Union College NCAA in 07-08

0

2004

9 (263)

Travis Morin, F

4

Texas Stars (AHL) Dallas org.

2005

1 (14)

Sasha Pokulok, D

0

Medvescak Zagreb (Austria)

0

2005

1 (27)

Joe Finley, D

5

Rochester Americans (AHL) Buffalo org.

2005

4 (109)

Andrew Thomas, D

0

Binghamton Sens (AHL) Ottawa org.

2005

4 (118)

Patrick McNeill, D

0

Hershey (AHL)

2005

5 (143)

Daren Machesney, G

0

Hershey (AHL) and South Carolina (ECHL)

2005

6 (181)

Tim Kennedy, F

112

San Jose org

2005

7 (209)

Viktor Dovgan, D

0

HK Sarov (VHL, Russian B league)

0

2006

1 (4)

Nicklas Backstrom, F

365

Caps

2006

1 (23)

Semyon Varlamov, G

112

Colorado Avalanche

2006

2 (34)

Michal Neuvirth, G

108

Caps

2006

2 (35)

Francois Bouchard, F

0

Conn. Whale (AHL)NYR org.

2006

2 (52)

Keith Seabrook, D

0

San Antonio Rampage (AHL) Florida org.

2006

4 (97)

Oskar Osala, F

3

Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (KHL)

0

2006

4 (122)

Luke Lynes, F

0

Univ. New Brunswick (CIS)

--

2006

5 (127)

Maxime Lacroix, F

0

Hershey (AHL) and South Carolina (ECHL)

2006

6 (157)

Brent Gwidt, F

0

Univ. Nebraska (NCAA)

--

2006

6 (177)

Mathieu Perreault, F

120

Caps

2007

1 (5)

Karl Alzner, D

215

Caps

2007

2 (34)

Josh Godfrey, D

0

Binghamton Sens (AHL) Ottawa org.

2007

2 (46)

Theo Ruth, D

0

Springfield Falcons (AHL) Columbus org.

2007

3 (84)

Phil DeSimone, F

0

Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) Montreal org

2007

4 (108)

Brett Bruneteau, F

0

Univ. of Vermont (NCAA)

--

2007

5 (125)

Brett Leffler, F

0

Univ. of Regina (CIS)

--

2007

6 (154)

Dan Dunn, G

0

Dayton Gems (Central HL)

0

2007

6 (180)

Justin Taylor, F

0

Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL)

2007

7 (185)

Nick Larson, F

0

Univ. of Minn. (NCAA)

--

2007

7 (199)

Andrew Glass, F

0

Carleton Univ. (CIS)

--

2008

1 (21)

Anton Gustafsson, F

0

Langnaw (Swiss)

0

2008

1 (27)

John Carlson, D

186

Caps

2008

2 (57)

Eric Mestery, D

0

Out of hockey

0

2008

2 (58)

Dmitry Kugryshev, F

0

CSKA Moskva (KHL)

0

2008

4 (93)

Braden Holtby, G

21

Caps and Hershey (AHL)

2008

5 (144)

Joel Broda, F

0

Houston Aeros (AHL) Wild org.

2008

6 (174)

Greg Burke, F

0

Univ. New Hampshire (NCAA)

--

2008

7 (204)

Stefan Della Rovere, F

7

Peoria Rivermen (AHL)St. Louis org.

2009

1 (24)

Marcus Johansson, F

149

Caps

2009

2 (55)

Dmitry Orlov, D**

60

Caps

2009

3 (85)

Cody Eakin, F**

30

Caps and Hershey (AHL)

2009

4 (115)

Patrick Wey, D

0

Boston College (NCAA)

--

2009

5 (145)

Brett Flemming, D**

0

Hershey (AHL) and South Carolina (ECHL)

2009

6 (175)

Garrett Mitchell, F**

0

Hershey (AHL)

2009

7 (205)

Benjamin Casavant, F

0

Epinal (France)

0

**2011-12 was first year pro

It's too early to gauge how the players selected in the 2010 and 2011 drafts will fare. Kuznetsov is the top prospect from the previous two drafts. It's uncertain when he might come to North America but McPhee insists the young Russian is worth waiting for. Grubauer is expected to move up to the AHL in 2012-13. Galiev will turn pro next season as well after a strong junior career with Saint John.